Wood and other vegetable matter

Portage — A Columbia County judge ruled Tuesday that marijuana turned up in a car search could be used against Rep. Jeff Wood (I-Chippewa Falls).

The ruling complicates a legal fight for Wood that involves the drug possession allegation and three charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs in as many counties. He’s also trying to stave off an attempt to expel him from the Assembly.

Wood’s attorney, Tracey Wood, declined to say whether she would appeal the ruling. The Woods are not related.

Jeff Wood, 40, was arrested Dec. 12 after authorities say he crashed through a highway sign and pulled over alongside I-39/90/94. Wood had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 – nearly double the legal limit for driving – and was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. State Trooper Andrew Rau then searched his 1998 Buick Skylark and found 4.9 grams of marijuana and a pipe.

He was charged with drunken driving, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

This is, of course, the same OWI incident which Wood said he would not contest, and would not even hire an attorney to fight. It was the first of three OWI incidents in a year, and his third arrest for OWI of five.

(Wood’s record over the last year makes it unnecessary at this point for the newspaper to remind us that he and his attorney are unrelated.)

The 1998 Buick Skylark could not be reached for comment. The source of the two bags of marijuana remains unknown.